Rodent Diseases: Leptospirosis, Hantavirus, Rat-Bite Fever

Rats and mice can spread several diseases to people. Three come up most often: leptospirosis, spread through the urine of infected animals; hantavirus, linked in the US mainly to the deer mouse and spread through contact with urine, droppings and saliva; and rat-bite fever, spread through bites, scratches or contaminated food and water. The CDC says diseases mainly spread from rodents when people breathe in contaminated air, which is why cleanup method matters.

This article summarizes CDC information. It is not medical advice. If you get sick after rodent exposure, tell your doctor about it.

Leptospirosis

Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease. The CDC says the bacteria spread through the urine of infected animals, and rats are a common source. People can get infected through contact with contaminated water or soil, especially after floods or heavy rain, through direct contact with body fluids from an infected animal, or by eating food or drinking water contaminated with animal urine.

Symptoms, per the CDC, can include fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, red eyes, rash and yellowing of the skin and eyes. Severe cases can involve kidney or liver failure or meningitis. Some people have no symptoms. It generally takes 2 to 30 days to get sick after contact with the bacteria.

The CDC's prevention advice includes covering cuts with waterproof bandages, wearing protective clothing and boots near possibly contaminated water or soil, and controlling rodents.

Hantavirus

The CDC says the deer mouse spreads the most common hantavirus that causes hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) in the US. People get infected through contact with rodents, especially their urine, droppings and saliva. Bites and scratches are a rare route. The CDC's cleanup guidance explains that breathing contaminated air is the main way rodent diseases reach people, and that sweeping or vacuuming droppings can put virus particles into the air.

According to the CDC, HPS symptoms usually start one to eight weeks after contact with an infected rodent. Early signs are fatigue, fever and muscle aches, especially in large muscle groups, and about half of patients also have headaches, dizziness, chills or stomach problems. Four to ten days later, coughing and shortness of breath can follow as the lungs fill with fluid. The CDC says 38 percent of people who develop respiratory symptoms may die from the disease.

Deer mice and white-footed mice live in fields and woods around Greater Cleveland, especially on the suburban edges, and move into garages, sheds, cabins and basements. Cleaning those spaces safely matters.

Rat-bite fever

Rat-bite fever is rare in the United States. The CDC says it is caused primarily by the bacterium Streptobacillus moniliformis in North America. It spreads through bites or scratches from infected rodents, through close contact with an infected rodent, or by eating or drinking food or water contaminated by rodents. The food and water form is called Haverhill fever.

Symptoms can include fever, chills, muscle pain, headache and vomiting. A rash may appear on the arms and legs two to four days after the fever starts, and about half of patients develop joint pain and swelling in several joints. The CDC says rat-bite fever is treatable with antibiotics.

Never handle a live rat with bare hands. Cornered rats bite.

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How to clean up safely

Following the CDC's cleanup steps is the most useful thing a homeowner can do to lower risk:

Open doors and windows for 30 minutes before cleaning and leave the area while it airs out.
Wear rubber or plastic gloves.
Spray droppings, urine and nests with a disinfectant or a fresh mix of 1 part bleach to 9 parts water until very wet. Let it soak five minutes.
Wipe up with paper towels and throw them in a covered trash can.
Mop or wipe hard surfaces with disinfectant.
Wash gloved hands, remove gloves and wash hands with soap and warm water.
Do not sweep or vacuum droppings, urine or nests.

For heavy contamination in attics, crawl spaces, sheds or basements, a professional with protective gear is the safer choice. See droppings cleanup.

Lowering the risk at home

Keep rodents out by sealing gaps at the foundation, sill and utility lines. See rodent exclusion.
Store food and pet food in sealed containers.
Keep trash carts closed.
Use snap traps, not glue or live traps. The CDC says glue and live traps can scare rodents into urinating, which increases exposure.
Wear gloves when handling traps and dead rodents.
After a flood or basement backup, wear boots and gloves when cleaning, since leptospirosis bacteria can be in the water.

If you have a recent illness that may be tied to rodents, the CDC advises telling your healthcare provider about your rodent exposure.

Frequently asked questions

Do house mice carry hantavirus?

The CDC links the most common US hantavirus to the deer mouse. Its pages do not single out house mice, but the safe cleanup steps apply to all rodent droppings.

Can I get sick from cleaning mouse droppings?

The risk comes mainly from breathing contaminated dust. Wetting droppings with disinfectant and never sweeping or vacuuming them lowers the risk.

Is leptospirosis a concern after basement flooding?

The CDC says leptospirosis can spread through water or soil contaminated with animal urine, especially after floods or heavy rain. Wear boots and gloves when cleaning.

What should I do if a rat bites me?

Clean the wound, and see a doctor. The CDC says rat-bite fever is treatable with antibiotics.

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